Logan just keeps on running. Review

Logan just keeps on running.

Gabe Logan is back for his final adventure on the Playstation and frankly,

I couldn’t be happier that it’s the last one. Don’t get me wrong – the Syphon

Filters are good, action-packed spy games. But like Kenny Rogers, at some

point you gotta know when to hold ’em and especially know when to fold ’em.

This

time Gabe and his allies must give closed-door congressional testimony about

the activities of the Agency during the period when the Syphon Filter

virus first emerged as a world threat. Unfortunately, because of events in the

previous games, Gabe is alone and unable to even prove the existence

of the Agency. Congressional inquiries and political posturing aside, organizations

are at this moment maneuvering to secure Syphon Filter to use toward

their own ends.

The game opens with Gabe giving testimony, denying he had any involvement with

the assassination of a foreign diplomat during the Syphon Filter crisis.

While testifying, the game gives a flashback, allowing you to play through the

situation Gabe describes…in this case, assassinating the previously mentioned

diplomat. Thus begins the game’s first mission.

Once you complete this mission, it becomes clear that this is the same damn

game we’ve been playing for three years now. Syphon

Filter was the spy game for folks who didn’t have the patience for Metal

Gear Solid. Whereas MGS was like playing through a psychological

espionage thriller, Syphon Filter played more like a hardcore episode

of The A-Team.

Just as much fun, just not as much thinking.

Once again the storyline is top-notch, with many levels being played flashback-style

during the hearing. But as cool as this is, it only serves to remind you how

dated the game is. As Gabe testifies about events that happened in a previous

game, you play that level in the context of the testimonial. For example, Gabe

tells congress about Rhoemer’s assassination of a fellow agent, which we saw

in the opening cinemas in the first game. Not only do we see it again, but this

time we actively chase Rhoemer afterward.

At first this seems pretty cool, almost like a ‘Syphon Filter: The Untold

Story’ project or something. Ultimately, though, you feel like you’ve done

it before.

This

feeling of deja vu isn’t helped by the fact that the game looks precisely the

same as the old games. Honestly, the only difference is Gabe’s new haircut.

Granted, it was no Solid Snake mullet,

but the old ‘doo had it’s charm. The animations in the cut-scenes look a bit

different as well, but I can’t say they look better. Gabe still runs with that

bowl-legged gait that screams “Gotta hustle!” and still uses the calm-under-pressure

deadpan dialogue.

The sound effects are exceptional with realistic weapon sounds and ambient

tracks. My only complaint about the sound is the fact you can’t hear the frequent

mission updates over the swell of the soundtrack.

Like other aspects of Syphon Filter 3, the gameplay itself remains unchanged.

Sabotage, personnel extraction, assassination and general sneakiness are the

parameters to ensure success. The same control scheme is used with no new actions

or animations. It’s still harder than necessary to change weapons in the middle

of a firefight, but the variety of weapons available gives you incentive.

The feeling of tension and suspense the player gets while playing through the

first two games is strangely absent here. Whereas before I would hug the walls

and creep silently through corridors looking for the enemy, now I find myself

calmly standing in the middle of a room nonchalantly picking off baddies. Maybe

I’m a better player, maybe I’m jaded, or just maybe the game isn’t as exciting

anymore.

The boring head-to-head multiplayer is back with brand new ways to make your

eyes roll back. It’s only one on one, the areas are pretty small, the control

isn’t great and the split screen sucks. It’s just a waste.

I understand the developers want Gabe to finish his first adventure on the

PSX – Syphon Filter being a trilogy and all that – but this engine’s

time has passed. It winds up playing more like Max

Payne on crack. This game is for hardcore fans of the series who have to

see how the story ends. If you just want some run ‘n’ gun shooting action, play

the first game again. You’ll thank yourself.